Suffolk County Council secure multi-million pound highways deal

A multi-million-pound ‘essential’ highways contract has been secured by Suffolk County Council.

The contract is worth between £800m and £1bn and will be used to deliver highway projects and improvements for up to 20 years across Suffolk.

This is part of a new partnership joining Milestone Infrastructure and Suffolk County Council in a bid to provide road maintenance, improvements to drainage, hedge trimming, construction of new road schemes, and other projects.

Cllr Paul West, SCC cabinet member for Ipswich, operational highways and flooding, said he is ‘confident’ the highways services proved will be at the core of ‘excellent services and value for our residents’.

He added: “As highways services tend to impact all those living, working or travelling in our county; it was essential we found the best possible fit for what was needed here in Suffolk.”

The contract will focus on continuing the council’s commitment to carbon reduction, employing local skills and talent, and giving young people more opportunities.

Matthew Riches, the operations director at Milestone, said: “We look forward to engaging with Suffolk’s residents and businesses as we deliver highway services fit for the future.

“We are also committed to creating jobs for local people, using local supply chain partners to strengthen the Suffolk economy, and providing employment opportunities to hard-to-reach groups, such as care leavers and ex-military veterans.”